Old Age Psychological and Social Changes PDF

Old age psychological and social changes By Prof Shewikar Farrag; Ph.D; MSC; BSC; RN  Learning objectives: Define chronological age, biological age, psychological, and social age. Discuss Psychological aspects of aging Discuss dimens...

Old age psychological and social changes By Prof Shewikar Farrag; Ph.D; MSC; BSC; RN  Learning objectives: Define chronological age, biological age, psychological, and social age. Discuss Psychological aspects of aging Discuss dimensions of personality that could be affected by aging. Discuss personal adaptation Identify compensation process Identify substitution process Identify consolidation process Discuss several normal cognitive changes of aging Recognize that culture affects psychological and social adaptation Recognize several social roles that elder members of a society usually fulfill  Learning objectives: Discuss several buffers that make transitions to new roles somewhat easier Explain the major issues in adaptation to a major role change, such as retirement or widowhood. Discuss the developmental tasks for elderly people and the common losses that they might experience Discuss the physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial changes Discuss the psychosocial Health Concerns Identify the interventions addressing psychosocial health concerns Explain acute care concerns and restorative care concerns  Behaviour throughout life Individual Cultural Hereditary choice chronological age The number of years a person has lived, used especially in psychometrics as a standard against which certain variables, such as behavior and intelligence, are measured. Biological age Your Biological age is the age that most normal people would be when they have a body and mind similar to yours. Compare this to your chronological age, which is the number of years you have been alive. Psychological age A type of aging that a person will experience (which may or may not match their actual aging), similar to non-physical maturity. For example, a young business owner with a much older psychological age may wish to sell the business because he or she feels that the business has reached its peak, whereas a young business owner with a smaller gap in psychological age may think that the company is still growing and may wish to try new ideas. Social age Social Age encompasses both societal and technological changes succeeding the Information age. It is diffident from the Information age as it gives more prominence to social factors when adopting and/or extending technology and information. It further broadens the definition because social age focuses on many forms of societal interactions including collaboration and sharing. Processes in Development  Psychological aspects of aging Psychological Development – Normal Cognitive Changes – Adult Development Theories Personality and Self Stage Theories – Erickson – Levinson Process Theories – Life Span Development  Psychological aspects of aging Normal Cognitive Changes – Life long abilities stay in place and changes only occur for those abilities that are not at the core of the person’s life skills. – Crystallized memory stays in place and supports intellectual function. – Major changes in intellectual functioning occur only late in life and usually not before age 60.  Psychological aspects of aging Normal Cognitive Changes – The major change is a slowing of the cognitive process i.e., problem solving etc. – This is due to age related changes in the CNS and Sensory System. – Older adults will need more time to complete physical and mental tasks.  Personality and Self – Personality is characterized by what an individual says and does relative to their innate nature and response to the environment. studies that have examined the inner dimensions of personality indicate that: Personality continues to develop throughout life and is considered to be one of continuity in healthy individuals. There is no radical change in personality with healthy individuals that occurs with aging.  Personality and Self – Self (the me and I) can be viewed as 4 components: Self concept (what we think we are like). Ideal self (what we think we ought to be). Self evaluation (moral evaluation of whether we are living up to certain standards). Self- esteem (whether we like or accept ourselves).  Personality and Self – At mid life we have a lot of information about ourselves As individuals age one is capable of avoiding roles that do not suit us. As time goes by one develops a clear idea about the self. Self acceptance increases with age which occurs in the majority of older adults and over time older adults indicate that they know themselves better than anyone else (Atchley 1994).  Personal Adaptation Adaptation is the ability to adjust to fit a situation or environment which serves the purpose of: – Life satisfaction – Maintenance – Renewal – Completion – Reinforcement of Self – Survival  Specific Adaptation in Aging – Adapting to less income – Adapting to increasing dependency – Adapting to lost roles and/or activities – Coping with threats to self esteem or self concept  Other aspects of adaptation Continuity Internal- ideas and memory – Pressures come from points of reference that will allow us to anticipate our response to life challenges. External- environment and people – Pressures come from environmental reinforcement and related role demands.  Compensation Part of accommodation which allows us to take actions that offset losses. Compensation takes place for – Social – Physical – Emotional – Financial etc. losses  Substitution This involves replacement of lost roles, experiences, activities and everything. What are several examples of substitution among the elderly? Can any be inappropriate?  Consolidation This involves “redistribution” of time, energy, financial resources, emotional commitments to remaining roles. How and when might consolidation be difficult for some older persons?  Managing threats to self identity and self esteem Defense mechanisms such as selective perception, selective memory and selective interaction are defense mechanisms used to support one’s positive sense of self.  Other aspects of adaptation – Competency and capability Mental and physical – Relative appreciation This is a coping strategy that allows one to compare oneself to another or a group of others that provides a positive sense of self.  Developmental Tasks for elderly people Tasks are associated w/ varying degrees of change and loss. (Box 13-3, pg.239) Common losses: Health Significant others Sense of usefulness Socialization Income Independent living Physical changes of aging  Physiological Changes Virtually every body system has some type of change w/ aging Cognitive Changes Delirium- Acute confusional state Dementia- Generalized impairment of intellectual functioning Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia Depression- affects 20% of older adults Psychosocial Changes Involves changes in roles and relationships Retirement Social Isolation Sexuality Housing and Environment Death  Health Concerns Psychosocial Health Concerns Social isolation Cognitive impairment Stresses due to life changes Interventions addressing psychosocial health concerns: Therapeutic communication Touch Reality orientation Body Image interventions  Special Concerns Acute Care Comfort Safety Nutrition/ hydration Skin Integrity Adverse events (delirium, dehydration, malnutrition, nosocomial infections, urinary incontinence, falls) Restorative Care Convalescence from acute care  Special Concerns Interventions should be continuing supporting what was started in acute care, should address holistic needs Functioning w/ chronic conditions Interventions should focus on promoting health, independence, stabilizing chronic conditions Thank you